Augustus Montague Toplady Poems

Augustus Montague TopladyAugustus Montague Toplady (November 4, 1740 – August 11, 1778),
was an Anglican clergyman and hymn-writer. He was a major Calvinist
opponent of John Wesley. Today, he is best remembered as the author of the hymn
"Rock of Ages". Three of his other hymns - "A Debtor to Mercy Alone", "Deathless
Principle, Arise", and "Object of My First Desire" - are still occasionally sung
today, though all three are far less popular than "Rock of Ages".
Augustus Toplady was born at Farnham, Surrey in November 1740.
His father, Richard Toplady, was probably from Enniscorthy, County Wexford in
Ireland. Richard Toplady became a commissioned officer in the Royal Marines in
1739; by the time of his death, he had reached the rank of major. In May 1741,
shortly after Augustus' birth, Richard participated in the Battle of Cartagena
de Indias, the most significant battle of the War of Jenkins' Ear, during the
course of which he died, most likely of yellow fever[1], leaving Augustus'
mother to raise the boy alone.
Augustus' mother, Catherine, was the daughter of Richard Bate, who was the
incumbent of Chilham from 1711 until his death in 1736. Catherine and her son
moved from Farnham to Westminster, and, from 1750 to 1755, Augustus attended the
Westminster School.